Hardik Pandya thanks selectors after being picked for England Tests

Hardik Pandya was included in the 15-man squad for the upcoming Test series against England starting on November 9 in Rajkot.

Hardik Pandya has played just 16 first-class matches for Baroda since 2013/14.(AFP)

Hardik Pandya was one of the surprise picks in the 15-man Indian Test squad for the upcoming five-Test series against England.

The Baroda all-rounder, who won the Man of the Match in his ODI debut against New Zealand in Dharamsala, thanked all his supporters and the selectors from his official Twitter handle (@hardikpandya7) after being selected.

In choosing the squad, chief selector MSK Prasad justified Pandya’s inclusion. “His pace has increased, his batting has improved, his personality has mellowed down. He has become equally competent in batting and bowling,” Prasad said.

Pandya has played just 16 first-class matches since 2013/14. His batting average is just 27.96 while he has taken 22 wickets at an average of 33.72 with one five-wicket haul.

He enjoyed a decent 2015/16 season with both bat and ball. With the bat, he scored 309 runs at an average of 30.90 with two fifties and with the ball, he picked up 17 wickets, including the five-wicket haul against Railways at the Moti Bagh stadium in Vadodara.